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This week's 'V' debut episode on ABC has some dazzling moments, including a few that may shock and surprise even viewers with vivid memories of the original 1983 miniseries. But does it belong on the list of all-time great TV series premiere episodes? Compare and contrast with the list below, featuring 10 of our favorite TV pilot episodes of all time.



10. 'The O.C.'
"Welcome to the O.C., bitch," says snobby jock Luke (Chris Carmack) to poor newcomer Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie). "This is how it's done in Orange County." For that exchange alone, this episode belongs in the pilot Hall of Fame.

J.J. Abrams may be one of Hollywood's current golden boys, credited with this summer's highly successful reboot of 'Star Trek,' but he'll always have television in his blood. He's an ace TV producer, embracing high concepts and turning them into highly addictive pop culture delights such as 'Alias,' 'Fringe' and, of course, 'Lost.'

While Abrams is preparing the next 'Star Trek' and a fourth installment in the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise, he's also got one eye on the tube. The Hollywood Reporter reports his next TV endeavor will be 'Undercovers,' described as a cross between 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' and 'The Bourne Identity.' Abrams will executive produce the series and is in talks to direct the pilot episode.

Just as poison shook Shakespeare's Juliet off this mortal coil, so too does a nuclear explosion send Dr. Juliet Burke of 'Lost' into the great blue yonder, confirms Entertainment Weekly (via Vulture blog).

The final episode of season 5 featured Juliet declaring her love for Sawyer and making a bomb go "boom," which had fans wondering if the heroic fertility doctor survived the explosion. But apparently not even the writers of 'Lost,' who are certainly capable of making people come back to life when they feel like it, could shield Juliet from such a big bang. So, don't look for the doc in the sixth (and final) season, because she's definitely gone, baby, gone .. though in the great tradition of 'Lost' beyond-the-grave appearances, she may still pop up in an episode or two.

"I've played quite peripheral people," says Sonya Walger, with characteristic British reserve, about her key roles as Penny on 'Lost,' Michelle Dixon on 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' and Dr. Olivia Benford on ABC's new drama 'FlashForward.' Modesty aside, she's about to take center stage on tonight's 'FlashForward,' in an episode that Walger says sees Olivia's worlds "in collision ... in a big way."

It's clear to viewers, if not to the character, that Olivia stands near the heart of the show's great mystery: why did everyone on earth black out for 137 seconds on October 6, and why, during the blackouts, did they all see what appear to be visions of what they would be doing on April 29, 2010? Her FBI agent husband, Mark (Joseph Fiennes), is investigating the blackouts. Her patient Dylan's father, Lloyd (Jack Davenport), is not only the man she sees herself cheating with six months from now, but he seems to be involved in the conspiracy behind the blackout.

Walger spoke to us from Los Angeles earlier this week, addressing the future of 'FlashForward,' discussing what may be in store for Penny on the forthcoming final season of 'Lost' and marveling that she's become the go-to actress for roles in thought-provoking, epic-scaled sci-fi series.

Jack and Kate may have crashed two planes into the South Pacific already, but there's at least one thing at 'Lost' that is still up in the air: its schedule.

According to Fancast, a mysterious blog article (which has since vanished like the island itself) reported that 'Lost' showrunner Carlton Cuse indicated during a recent visit to Harvard University that the show would be taking a mid-season hiatus to avoid airing head-to-head against the Winter Olympics.

You've got questions? I've got answers. I'm The Show Girl!

What's happening with Season 3 of 'Chuck'? You all wanted to know, so I visited the set to find out, and ended up talking yogurt with Yvonne Strahovski and joking with Zach Levi about directing an episode.

Plus, I get 'V' stars Elizabeth Mitchell and Morris Chestnut to chat about more 'Lost'-ies joining their cast, and share the inside scoop about those tabloid rumors surrounding Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's marriage, straight from the source.

Want more? Email me TV questions at TheTVShowGirl@aol.com -- who knows, I might just give you an answer on the show. Now watch, enjoy and come back next week for more. Until then, happy TV watching! -- By Maggie Furlong

Has ABC found its next 'Lost' in 'FlashForward'?

The buzzed-about freshman drama got off to a good start last night, with its season premiere notching 12.4 million viewers -- beating 'Survivor: Samoa' on CBS, Fox's 'Bones,' NBC's comedy hour of 'Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday' and 'Parks and Recreation' and The CW's 'Vampire Diaries.'

But the series has received mixed reviews from critics, with some wondering whether 'FlashForward' will build on its premiere momentum -- or fall flat like previous ABC dramas 'The Nine' and 'Invasion.' And most importantly ... when 'Lost' bows out in eight months, can this show fill its shoes?

"Clearly, ABC wants a successor to 'Lost,' and, hey, nobody's arguing against that. But you start to wonder if that quest is like trying to clone a unicorn - a messy and expensive gambit that will only result in someone getting gored," writes Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune.

Does dying on 'Lost' really mean the end of your acting career? Tell that to 'FlashForward''s Dominic Monaghan [TV.com]

Have you had it with all these 'Snakes on a Cane' ads? Find out which show is behind the campaign [Live Feed]

Who are the most dangerous celebs on the web? Click to find out ... if you dare [PopWatch]

The '80s is making a comeback -- but not everybody is there yet. See this list of '80s TV stars in need of a second chance [TWOP]

Jon Gosselin is on the job hunt. Check out 10 ways he can actually put his idea to work [PopEater]

Having trouble figuring out who's on this season of 'Dancing With the Stars'? Read their "official" bios [Cracked]

In honor of the late Ted Kennedy, watch his last TV role on 'Chicago Hope' [The Wrap]

'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' is gonna make it after all -- on stage [Decider.com]

Three months later, where did 'The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien' go wrong? [Washington Post]

'thirtysomething' is (finally!) on DVD. Take a look back the Emmy-winning series [NY Times]

Megan Fox will kick-off 'Saturday Night Live''s 35th season, VH1 cancels 'Megan Wants a Millionaire,' BET may resurrect 'The Game' and more of today's top TV headlines.